Record card magazine



June 30, 1964 R. A. HUNT 3,139,279

RECORD CARD MAGAZINE Original Filed Nov. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. ROBERT A. HUNT ,4 T TORNEY June 30, 1964 R. A. HUNT RECORDCARD MAGAZINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 28, 1958 INVENTOR.ROBERT A. HUNT ATTORNEY June 30, 1964 R. A. HUNT RECORD CARD MAGAZINE 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 28, 1958 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. HUNTATTORNEY R. A. HUNT 3,139,279

Original Filed Nov. 28, 1958 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. HUNT B Mar/M ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,139,279 REQORD QARD MAGAZINE Robert A. Hunt,Wilbraham, Mass., assignor to Xerox Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Original application Nov. 28, 1958, Ser. No.776,848. Divided and this application Dec. 14, 1961, Ser. No.

1 Claim. (Cl. 27]l--88) This invention relates to improvements in recordcard magazines and, particularly, to improvements in magazines of thetype which are self-adjusting under the weight of record cards stored inthe magazine.

As is well known, in recent years, the steadily increasing size ofvarious industries has required an enormous increase in the number andvariety of business records that must be made, maintained, and be keptavailable for use. Prior to the advent of xerography, previously knownconventional systems of record making and keeping were employed for thispurpose. However, the increasing enormity of recording operations madethis phase of a business increasingly expensive and burdensome to thepoint that it was becoming economically unfeasible to continue byconventional techniques.

As one facet of the record-keeping problem, the mere protection of therecords of a business may be considered. As a safeguard againstdestruction of records by fire, flood, or other disaster, it became acommon practice periodically to microfilm a concerns records and tostore these microfilms at locations and under conditions to preventtheir inadvertent destruction. Although this technique was effective topreserve the records for possible future reference, it merely addedanother expense to the record-keeping burden without, in any way,simplifying the handling or maintaining of records. This condition wasinherent, first, since the primary purpose was to remove the microfilmrecords from everyday use and, second, because of the relativeinaccessibility of selected rec ords contained on such microfilm.

Recently, there has been developed an improved system for makingmicrofilm records whereby such records may be maintained underconditions of relative security from destruction and, at the same time,be available for day-to-day use. This system is generally known as aunitized microfilm system and comprises the basic steps of (1) copyingonto microfilm original drawings, tracings, memoranda, reports, or otherrecords likely to require reproduction at a later date, etc.; (2)mounting the individual microfilm frames into the apertures of microfilmdata processing cards, which may be designated by coded perforations foruse in conventional card-controlled machines; and (3) using suchmicrofilm cards for the reproduction of the film information thereon.

A typical example of a microfilm card of the type contemplated herein isdisclosed in Patents 2,511,859, 2,512,- 106, and 2,587,022. As disclosedin these patents the microfilm card comprises a conventional record cardof the type widely used in record-controlled accounting and tabulatingsystems, but is provided with an aperture with a depressed margintherein in which a microfilm frame may be inserted and permanentlysecured to the card. When a microfilm frame of data to be reproduced isso mounted in a microfilm card, the card may also be code punched withinformation defining, identifying, or relating to the microfilm picture.Thereafter, these cards may be manually or machine sorted and otherwiseprocessed in accordance with conventional uses of such cards.

The present invention is an improved record card magazine adapted to beused with card handling systems and specifically disclosed herein asbeing used in a sys- EJ392 19 Patented June 30, 1964 tem whichreproduces the microfilm image mounted in the record card.

The principal object of the invention is to improve record cardmagazines for use in unitized data processing systems. A further objectof the invention is to improve the movement of the card support platformin a record card magazine.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by means of arecord card magazine with a card stacking platform supported and guidedin the center to reduce frictional forces between the guiding members.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic xerographic processingsystem suitable for use with the in vention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the xerographic apparatus and ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the card handling apparatus, as seenfrom the front of the machine.

Throughout this description the front of the xerographic processingsystem (see FIG. 1) is regarded as that portion which the operator faceswhile placing microfilm cards in the machine for reproduction and whileadjusting the several manual operating controls. The right and left endsof the machine are regarded as being to the right and left of theoperator as he faces the machine.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, the invention isused in a microfilm projection system that is a fully automatic,continuous printer for reproducing information contained on microfilmcards. This equipment reproduces copy on a continuous roll of paper,that may have a web width up to 24", from either positive or negativefilm, in either of two magnification ratios: 15X or 20X; wherebymicrofilm images of different sizes may conveniently be enlarged to thefull Width of the web. Referring to FIG. 1, the system may be consideredto include four distinct sections for housing the several elementsthereof, namely, a base section 1, for housing the xerographic drum, theWeb tensioning and feeding apparatus, as well as the devices foreffecting the xerographic functions of plate charging, image transfer,brush cleaning, etc.; an upper section 2, for housing the card handlingapparatus as well as the bulk of the optical system; an end section 3,secured to the left end of the base section, for housing the xerographicdeveloping apparatus; and a control section 4, mounted on the basesection and forward of the upper section, for housing cer tain of theelectrical equipment required in the system and to provide a controlpanel whereon the operator may set selected ones of a plurality ofswitches for selecting the desired type of operation.

Base section 1 includes two side frames that are connected across theirtops by a plate 5, whereby the entire system is supported. Suitablecover plates are included to enclose the mechanism and access doors areprovided on the front of the machine to facilitate repair andadjustment. Upper section 2 includes suitable cover plates for enclosingthe bulk of the card handling apparatus and the optical system, as wellas a card magazine 7 for holding microfilm cards from whichreproductions are to be made, and a receiving magazine 8 to which cardsare ejected after the microfilm image thereon is reproduced. Alsoincluded, is a lever 9 whereby the optical system may be set selectivelyfor 15 X or 20X magnification ratio. In addition, a handwheel isprovided whereby the position of the card magazine may be alteredrelative to the optical system, in accordance with the longitudinaldimension of the image on the microfilm card. End section 3 is enclosedby a dust-tight housing and is pivotally mounted on the base section bysuitable hinges 11, whereby the entire end section of the machine may beswung outwardly to permit access to the several elements of thedeveloping system, and to permit convenient access to the surface of theXerographic drum for the purpose of cleaning. The entire structure isspecifically arranged to form a light-tight enclosure in the areas ofthe optical projection system and the Xerographic developing system.

Control section 4 (see also FIG. 11) includes an instrument panel 12 forsupporting the several operating controls in convenient reach of theoperator. These controls include a variable transformer control T-4, forvarying the intensity of the projection lamp of the optical system; alight intensity meter MET-3, which is employed in testing to determinethe light intensity reaching the Xerographic drum; and an automaticreset-type counter i-TR,

that is pre-settable to the desired number of copies required to be madeof any microfilm card image. In addition, the panel includes a Runswitch SW-l, to initiate the operation of the system; a Stop switchSW-3, that functions to stop the machine within a predetermined intervalafter it is pushed to permit the completion of certain Xerographicoperations; and an Emergency Stop switch SW-2, that is effective to stopthe system instantaneously in the event this should become necessary.Also included are switches for selecting the desired type of operation,as follows: A Projection Only-Automatic switch SW-fl, whereby the entiremachine may be run automatically or the upper section or head may beoperated independently; a 15 20 switch SW-13, for'selecting the drivingrate of the microfilm card car riage; and a Card-Roll Film switchSW-dZA, whereby the machine may be set to operate from microfilm cardsor from roll film, if desired. It may be noted that an understanding ofmachine operation with roll film is not essential to the presentinvention and that, therefore, no portion of the roll film mechanism isdescribed herein.

General Description of System (FIG. 2)

For a general understanding of the Xerographic processing system inwhich the invention is used, reference is had to FIG. 2 in which thevarious system components are schematically illustrated. As in allXerographic systems based on the concept disclosed in the above-citedCarlson patent, a light image of copy to'be reproduced is projected ontothe sensitized surface of a Xerographic plate to form an electrostaticlatent image thereon. Thereafter, the latent image is developed with anop positely charged developing material to form a Xerographic powderimage, corresponding to the latent image, on the plate surface. Thepowder image is then electrostatically transferred to a support surfaceto which it may be fused by any suitable form of fusing device, wherebythe powder image is caused permanently to adhere to the support surface.

In the system disclosed herein, microfilm cards are placed in a cardmagazine '7 from which they are fed seriatim to a card carriage of acard handling apparatus, generally designated by reference character 75,arranged to the rear of the card magazine assembly. Suitable drivingmeans are provided for the card carriage whereby it is caused to movethe card past the optical axis of a projection lens system 16 that isilluminated by a projection lamp LMP-3 for the purpose of scanning themicrofilm frame. The microfilm card image is projected downwardlythrough an adjustable objective lens assembly 17 and then reflectedupwardly by an adjustable mirror element 29 to either of two transversemirror assemblies 21 or 22, in order to vary the length of the opticalpath, depending on the magnification ratio employed. From mirrorassemblies 21 or 22, the light image is projected downwardat ly througha variable slit aperture assembly 23 and onto the surface of axerographic plate in the form of a drum 24.

Xerographic drum 24 includes a cylindrical member mounted in suitablehearings in the frame of the machine and is driven in a counterclockwisedirection by a motor M-2 at a constant rate that is proportional to thescan rate of the microfilm card, whereby the peripheral rate of the drumsurface is identical to the rate of movement of the reflected lightimage. The drum surface comprises a layer of photoconductive material ona conductive backing that is sensitized prior to exposure by means of ascreened corona generating device 25, which may be of the type disclosedin Walkup Patent 2,777,957, that is energized from a suitable highpotential source.

The exposure of the drum to the light image discharges thephotoconductive layer in the areas struck by light, whereby thereremains on the drum a latent electrostatic image in image configurationcorresponding to the light image projected from the microfilm card. Asthe drum surface continues its movement, the electrostatic latent imagepasses through a developing station 26 in which a two-componentdeveloping material, which may be of the type disclosed in Walkup Patent2,638,416, is cascaded over the drum surface.

After developing, the Xerographic powder image passes a dischargestation 27 at which the drum surface is illuminated by a lamp LMP-Z,whereby residual charges on the non-image areas of the drum surface arecompletely discharged. Thereafter, the powder image passes through animage transfer station 28 at which the powder image is electrostaticallytransferred to a support surface web 29 by means of a second coronagenerating device 30 similar to. corona charging device 25, mentionedabove.

The support surface to which the powder image is transferred may be ofany convenient type and is obtained from a supply roll 31 and is fedover suitable guide and tensioning rolls and directed into surfacecontact with the drum in the immediate vicinity of transfer coronagenerating device 30. After transfer, the support surface is separatedfrom the drum surface and guided through a suitable heat fusingapparauts 32, whereby the powder image is permanently affixed to thesupport surface. Thereafter, the support surface is fed over a furthersystem of guide and tensioning rolls and onto a take-up roll 33 that isdriven by motor M-3.

After transfer, the Xerographic drum surface passes through a cleaningstation 34 at which its surface is brushed by a cleaning brush assembly35, rotated by a motor M-4, whereby any residual developing materialremaining on the drum is removed. Thereafter, the drum surface pasl'esthrough a second discharge station 36 at which it is lluminated by afluorescent lamp LMP-f, whereby the drum surface in this region iscompletely flooded with light to remove any electrostatic charge thatmay remain thereon. Suitable light traps are provided in the system toprevent any light rays from reaching the drum surface, other than theprojected microfilm image,

during the period of drum travel immediately prior to sensitization bycorona generating device 25 until after the drum surface is completelypassed through the developing station 25.

Card Feeding Apparatus (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) The card feeding apparatuscomprises the several devices that serve to feed microfilm cardsseriatim from card magazine 7 (see FIG. 3) to a card carriage wherebythey are moved past an optical system that is effective to project themicrofilm image onto the Xerographic drum one or more times, inaccordance with the number of copies required. After projection of therequired number of light images, the card is ejected from the cardcarriage and is deposited in receiving magazine 8.

For convenience of assembly and adjustment, the card feeding apparatus,as shown in FIG. 4, is mounted on a rigid frame consisting of sideplates 40 and 41 and a top plate 42 that is integrally connected withthe side plates. Side plates 40 and 41 are also connected at their lowerends by a knife edge member 43 that rides in grooves in rollers 44 and45 that are rotatably mounted on studs 46 and 47 that are fixed in abase casting 48 that serves to support the entire card handlingapparatus and, in turn, is supported on plate 5 of base section 1. Bythis arrangement the entire weight of thecard feeding apparatus issupported by rollers 44 and 45, whereby the entire assembly may be movedlaterally, as described below, to adjust the position of the cardmagazine assembly relative to the card carriage. Suitable guide members(not shown) are provided to maintain the card feeding apparatus inupright position.

Seriatim feeding of the cards is effected by means of an apparatus thatis an adaptation of that disclosed in Braun Patent 2,211,094. Microfilmcards are placed in card magazine assembly 7 that includes verticalguide members 50 for holding a stack of cards in alignment, and a basemember 51 for supporting the weight of the card stack which, in turn, issupported on frame plate 42. The magazine is arranged to permit thefeeding of cards from the bottom of the card stack and an adjustablethroat knife assembly 52 is provided at the exit slot 54 of the magazineto retain the remaining cards in the stack as each bottom card isremoved. A card weight 55 is provided to hold the cards in properfeeding relation.

For moving each card out of the magazine, the apparatus includes amovable base block 56 that supports the trailing edge of the card stackand is provided with an adjustable pickerknife 57 that is arranged toengage the trailing edge of the lowermost card of the stack. Base block56 is mounted in suitable ways for sliding movement toward and away fromthe exit slot of the magazine, and is reciprocated in timed relation tothe operation of the remainder of the card handling apparatus. For thispurpose, a lever 61 is pivotally mounted on a stud 62 fixed in frameplate 42 and is connected to base block 56 by a shouldered screw 63. Theother end of lever 61 is connected to a crank rod 64 which, in turn, ispivotally connected to a crank arm 65 that is adjustably mounted on adetent cam 66 keyed on a cam shaft 70 (see also FIG. 5). As describedbelow, cam shaft 70 is rotated periodically through a single revolutionclutch, in timed relation to the remainder of the mechanism, whereby asingle card is advanced from card magazine 7, as required.

As each card leaves magazine 7, it is gripped successively by two setsof feed rolls 71 and 72 and advanced rearwardly to a card carriageassembly, generally designated by reference character 75. For thispurpose, both sets of feed rolls 71 and 72 are journaled for rotation insupporting brackets 76 and 77 that are secured on side plates 40 and 41,respectively, and the upper rolls are resiliently urged into engagementwith the lower rolls by springs 78. For driving the feed rolls, theshaft of lower roll 71 extends through bracket 76 and is provided with apin 79 that engages a slot 80 in a collar 81 fixed on the drive shaft ofa motor M-7 that rotates continuously while the apparatus is inoperation. The remaining rolls are positively driven through pinions 82fixed on each feed roll shaft and an idler pinion 83 mounted on bracket77, whereby the two upper rolls 71 and 72 are rotated clockwise, asviewed in FIGS. 3 and 5, and lower rolls 71 and 72 are rotatedcounterclockwise to advance the card to card carriage assembly 75, whichat this point of operation is directly aligned with the feed rolls toreceive the card.

Immediately thereafter, the card carriage is moved to the right, in apath of movement normal to the card feeding movement, to effect theimage scanning operation. After the microfilm image in the card isscanned by the optical system, carriage assembly 75 is returned to aposition in alignment with the feed rolls and the card is ejected fromthe carriage assembly, as described below. Thereupon it is engaged bylower feed roll 72 that is in frictional contact with an idler feed roll84 that is rotatably mounted in arms 85, that are pivoted on side plates40 and 41, and is resiliently urged into contact with feed roll 72. Thecontinued driving action of feed roll 72 is thereby elfective to movethe card forwardly against a deflector plate 86 that causes the card todrop downwardly and come to rest on a support plate 87 in receivingmagazine 8.

The receiving magazine includes suitable vertical guide members 88 toconfine the movement of the cards rearwardly, and gate members 89 arefixed on a rod 90 that is rotatably mounted in side plates 40 and 41.Gate members 89 are effective to maintain the cards in a vertical stackbut may conveniently be swung outwardly by rotating a knob 91 fixed onrod 90, whereby the operator may remove cards from the machine. Supportplate 87 of the magazine is secured on a rectangular frame assembly 92having rollers 93 that ride in vertical grooves 94 in side plates 40 and41, whereby support plate 87 is guided for vertical movement. A roller95 is mounted on a stud 96 fixed in frame assembly 92 and rides on alever 97 that is pivotally mounted in side plate 41. Spring 98 isextended between lever 97 and the magazine frame to urge frame assembly92 and support plate 87 upwardly, when there are no cards in themagazine. This construction minimizes the possibility of cards tumblingas they are ejected from the card carriage and, at the same time,provides a support plate structure that moves downwardly as additionalcards are added, against the tension of spring 98, whereby a substantialnumber of cards may be stacked in the receiving magazine before it isnecessary for the operator to remove them.

In the event of a misfeed of a card or in the event the supply of cardsin card magazine 7 becomes exhausted, means are provided to stop themachine to enable the operator to make the necessary adjustments. Forthis purpose, a card detector switch 6-LS (see FIG. 5) is mounted on theback plate 99 of card magazine 7. This switch functions in conjunctionwith the remainder of the electrical circuit to keep the severaloperating circuits energized as long as switch 6-LS is actuated duringthe period in which a card is supposed to be passed through feed rolls71 and 72. For this purpose, a switch-actuating element 100 extendsdownwardly between the upper feed rolls 71 and 72 and into the path ofmovement of the cards. Engagement of each card with actuating element100 serves to maintain the desired circuitry energized. In the eventthere is a failure to feed a card, switch 6-LS is not actuated and thecircuit is thereby broken to stop the machine, as described below.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 776,848, filedNovember 28, 1958, in the name of Robert A. Hunt. For a more detaileddescription of the operation of the xerographic system and the recordcard handling apparatus, which is not essential to the operation of thisinvention, reference is had to the above-referenced application.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

A record card receiving magazine including a pair of side plates with avertical groove substantially in the center of each plate;

a card receiving platform positioned between the side plates with itscenter substantially aligned with the vertical grooves;

a frame member attached to the card receiving platform substantially inthe center thereof;

a pair of vertically aligned guide rollers rotatably mounted on eachside of the frame member and cooperating With the vertical grooves inthe side plates;

the axis of rotation of said rollers being parallel to the side plates,whereby the card receiving platform and the frame member are freelymovable in a vertical direction within the side plates;

the construction and arrangement of the side plates, the card receivingplatform, the frame member, and the guide rollers being such that thecenter of the platform is substantially in line with the verticalgrooves and rollers;

a lever pivotally mounted on one of the side plates and extendingbeneath the card receiving platform;

a spring positioned to urge the lever in an upward direc- 15 tion;

and asupport roller mounted at the center of the frame References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 818,924 Strong Apr. 24,1906 1,135,802 Hotaling Apr. 13, 1915 2,181,995 Keil Dec. 5, 19392,771,293 Guthridge Nov. 20, 1956 2,788,131 Bergstrom et al Apr. 9, 1957

